Ejector fork



May 10, 1932. T. s. HUTCHIS O N 1,357,455

I EJEGTOR FORK Filed Aug. '7, 1951 Fla-1.1

Fla. 2

IN VEN TOR. THOMAS J HUTCH/JGN /WWW 6. 6%,

- ATTORNEY.

Patented May 10, 1932 o -"FIcE 7 THOMAS s. HU rcHIsoN, or CHICAGO, ILLrnoIs nanoron ronx Application filed August 7, 1931. Serial No. 555,670.

My invention relates to an improved construction of ejector fork by which articles of many kinds may be handled by the fork and removed from the fork by the ejector mechanism as described. a

My invention is an improvement on constructions heretofore proposed for accomplishing the purpose referred to, and ischaracterized particularly by making the ejector 1o mechanism of wire bent so that a single piece of wire constitutes the ejecting member, the thumb or finger hold for operating the ejector, the retaining member in the handle of the fork for holding the ejecting member in assembled relation and limiting'its outward or ejecting movement and also engaging a spring in the handle for holding the ejecting mechanism in its retractedposition, without the addition of any. parts whatever to the bent wire. By my improved construction the bent wire ejecting mechanism is a completely formed as a separate unit, in such a manner that without deformation of any kind, it may beassembled on the fork and require no forming or adjusting after assembly, the mounting of the shank of the fork in its handle, serving to retain the-parts in their assembledrelation. In this manner, I -pro-' vide a cheap and simple construction for the purpose referred to, which at the same time is most effective in operation.

My invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment thereof, in

which Fig. 1 shows my construction in perspective view in assembled relation, with the handle of the fork shown in longitudinal,'sec-- tional view to illustrate the relation of the parts in the handle,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the form of fork bled on the fork member.

, Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views;

As shown in Fig. 1, my improved fork co-n-.

struction consists of a fork member 10, made 5 preferably of metal wire bent to the form indicated, so that the mid portion of the Wire after it is bent, forms the shank end 11 of the fork member, the sides of the shank portion being spacedand in substantially parallel relation to receive between them. a retracting spring 12 and the hook shaped end 13 of the ejecting mechanism. The wire thus bent constitutes the shank, a loop with closed ends, or in effect, produces a slotted shank construction. The ends of the bent wire forming the fork member 10, arespac'ed from each other and in substantially parallel relation as indicated at .14, 14 to form the tines of the fork member, the ends of the tines being preferably providedwith small teeth 15, v15 tending be handled by it.-

The ejector .mechanism 16 consists of a metal wirebent at one end to form a flat'loop 17 loosely surrounding the tines 14, 14 from which loop the bodyportion of the ejector mechanism extends "closely adjacent the fork member 10, to a position near the handle'18, where the Wire of the ejector mechanism is bent to'form a ring 19 substantially parallel with the end of the handle vand preferably somewhat larger thanthe end of the handle. From'the ring portion 19, the wire of the ejector mechanism is bent to form the hook portion 13 which is substantially parallel with the shank portion 11 of the fork memto hold on the fork, articles that may her, the hook 13 in its'sassembled condition.

extending between theiside members of the, shank portion ll'and, interlocking with the shank portion, so that the end of the wire is substantially in the plane of the ring portion 19. In-this manner, the hook portion 13 serves as a guide for the ejector mechanism since the members of the hook portion are upon opposite sides of the body portion of the fork member, and the bend 13b of the hook portion 13 limitsoutward movement of the ejector mechanism byengaging the bends in the fork member where the spaced portions of the shank of the fork member, merge into the body portion ofsaid member. The spring 12 is hooked at its ends around the bend 13b and around the butt end; of the shank 11 of the fork, preferably in a notch 20 formed in the shank portion to hold the spring in place.

The handle 18 is provided with a bore 21 which is a snug sliding fit on the shank portion 11'of the fork member, and the end of the handle 18'adjacent the ring portion 19, is preferably provided with a'metal ferrule 22 against which the radial portion or portions of the ring portion 19 may rest, when the ejector mechanism is inits fully retracted position under the action of the spring12. This it will be noted, retains the hook portion 13 of the ejectorme'chanismin'guiding relation with the body portion of thefork. member 10. I

'The construction of the'fork member and of the ejector mechanism 16 is more clearlyi'shown in Figs..:2 and 3, where these parts are illustrated in. their disassembled condition From the construction of the parts above described,.it' will beobserved that the ejector 'mech'anism' maybev made completelyiasa separate unit and from a single piece of metal wire, as illustrated in Fig. 3, and-thatthis mechanism may be assembled on theforkmember shown in Fig. 2, by inserting the tines 14, 14 through the ring 19 and y then through the loop 17, and. then sliding the ejecting mechanism towardsthe shank of the fork member until the free side 13a of the hook. portion 13 clears the end 110 of the space between the side'm embers of the shank 11..ofthe fork member, which permits the .free side 13a of the hook portion, to pass through the space in the shank portion, so that the 7 spring 12. may be hooked at one-end around the bend 13b. of the hook portion '13, and at 7 itsiother end around the end ofthe shank portionll in the notch 20, so that the spring is containedin the spacebetweenthe side members of the shank portion 11. The ejecting mechanism 16 is then moved towards the 1 points of the tines with the side members of the. hook portion 13 on opposite sides of the body portion .10 of the fork member, and the shank portion 11, is then inserted in the bore 21" in the handle 18, the parts having sufficient frictional engagement. to hold the fork in its completely assembled condition resulting from the operations-described. From the construction described, it will appear that the bend 13b of the hook portion 13- engages the bends-in the shank 11 at 111a, when theejector mechanism is moved "to its ejecting position,

' theproportions oft-he partsbeingsuchthat for this relatiomtthe' flat loop 17 is still on the. tines 14, 14 of the fork, adjacent their ends.

T The ring 19 permits the operation of the ejec- 1'1 and the tines 14, 1'4', consists preferably ofpa-rallel portions ofithe-wire of which. the

fork member is made, which portions are securely held together many convenient manner, for example by spot welding, soldering or brazing. It will be understood that this construction of the fork-member isillustrative and that any equivalent construction may be used.

From the above it will appear that the entire fork structure, including the ejector mechanism,consists of but three parts in addition to the handle, namely the fork member,

the ejector member, and thespring; that each.

of'these partsis of cheap construction; that each part may: -be;made in finished form as a unit before the assembly of the structure; and that the: partsmay be easily and quickly assembled, withoutthe use of tools orfastening devices of any. kind all of which combines .to reduce the manufacturing cost ofthe complete fork. At the same time, the com structionmay: readily be made as substantial as desired and in. any size desired, so that: it mayeifectively handle any and all articles susceptible of. beinghandled by a fork, with the. advantage; that.,.the. articles handled may be removed from the fork by the ejector mechanism,by. the same hand: that is used to hold the fork... A fork construction of thiskind is particularly useful in many ways. for household purposes, particularly whereit. is dc:- siredv tohandlehot articles.

While I have shown my invention in the particular embodiment above described, it will be understood that I do not limit myself to this exact construction as I may employ equivalents known to the art at the time of the filing of: applicatioirwithout departing from the scope of the appended claims;-

What-I claim is: Y 7 r In an ejector fork,the' combination of a fork member c'ompri'singa metalwirc bent into a-Jshank loop, a body portiomands-paced tines, an ejector member, comprisinga metalwire bent into a flatloop loosely surrounding said tines,a body portion extending along the fork member, a ring surrounding the fork member, and a fiat hook. extending through said shank loop, a retracting spring connect- I ing said hook and the butt end of said shank loop and contained in said shank loop, and a handle on and surrounding said shank loop with its end adjacent said ring.

2. In an ejector fork, the combination. of a :fork member having spaced tines, a body portion, and a slotted shank, an ejector member compris ng a wire shaped into aloop surrounding sald tines, a body portion extend ing along the fork member, a ring surronnding said fork member, and a hook extending through said slotted shank, a retracting spring connected with said hook, and a handle .on said slotted shank.

' Inwitness whereof, I hereunto subscribe THOMAS S. HUTCHISON. 

